Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-03
TERRIBLE FRESHET IN AUGUSTA.

the subject.
TERRIBLE FRESHET IN AUGUSTA.
The heavy rains of last week were OF
such an extent as to cause an overflow OF
the Savannah river at that point, and for
several hours the streets of that city were
submerged. The Chronicle of Monday,
giving an account of the scene, says:
The river continued on its upward course
during Saturday night, and a~bout1Oo'clock
water commenced to make its appearance
on upper Broad. An hour later the street
was Inundated, and by 8 O'Clock Sunday
morning was impossible. Night. pedes-
TRANS had to wade it out, cave-ins in side
walks and troublesome wash:outs on street
crossings making the mode of travel
doubly difficult and dangerous as well.
From Schultz Hills, in South Carolina, to
the Harrisburg Hill, in Georgia above
Cumming Street, and north-north-east of
the second canal level was one vast sheet
of water. The water current in this Sec
ton of the town was remarkably strong,
and washed along Cumming, Mcklnnie
and Kollock streets with much force.
Crossing places over intersecting streets
were soon carried away, yards filled with
the muddy substances, gates and fencing
undermined and raised, and foundations
of residences shaken.
Row boats and batteaux were soon
brought into requisition, and about 10
o'clock in the day the streets were alive
with little craft. Pleasure parties pre-
dominated, but ferries were put on by en-
terprising boatmen, who reaped quite a
harvest. Navigation was easy, and at
tended with little or no Inconvenience
from distractions in the middle of the
streets. Now and then an adult swimmer
would glide down the street, "sailor fash
ion or dog way" while the juvenile seem
ed in his glory and padded about the en-
tire day, and enjoyed the splashing in the
muddy current to his hearts content. All
over the city where the water had asserted
itself piazzas and balconies were crowded
with curious sight-seers, who incessantly
watched the unusual spectacle. On the
expanse fronting the Enterprise Factory,
formerly known as the pine thicket, which
was covered with water to q depth, in
some places, of seven feet hundreds OF men
and boys bathed and gamboled. ,
The churches were we'll patronized and
quiet Sunday dinners enjoyed.
A few drays were seen moving the chat-
tells of some u~nfortunates who had been
unable during the night to secure any
means of conveyance, n were now seek
ing friendly shelter where the horrors OF
Saturday night and Sunday morning might
be temporarily forgotten in tranquil slum-
Der. Most of the movers were from that
portion of the city north of Broad and
west of Campbell known as the meek"
where the inhabitants had spent the night
in the attics. They sought shelter out in
the Augusta factory districts. Many touch.
ing scenes were witnessed at the foot of
Marbury street, where the high ground of
the ascent to the waterfall embankment
made a most desirable landing. Here
the poorer classes, bent on escaping he
rising waters, landed with their worldly
stores, and beneath the awnings of the small
stores their goods were left, often in care
of their small children, while they went
in search of habitations.
Wild rumors on the streets Sunday after
noon about a break in the bank OF the
third level of the canal, near the street
car stables, caused CONSERVATION among
people interested in that vicinity, and sent
many hurriedly to the scene. A majority
of the visitors were of the opinion that an
immense gulley had been torn through
the mass of clay from which the water
rushed in tremendous volume. But the
break was not so awful, particularly in
appearance. Just at the foot of the en-
bankment, in the yard of Car Driver Pague,
a spring of bubbling water, or rather what
appeared to be one, came above the sur
face, pouring forth considerable quantity
of muddy water, exactly the shade of the
flood on the other side. When first dis
covered, the mouth was not more than
two inches in diam -ter, but at dusk had
increased to nearly a foot, the flow in
creasing correspondingly. Simple and in
significant to the eye, but what an min
sign of danger and destruction to one
who understood the situations!
At ~ o'clock Sunday night the general
alarm bell was sounded, it being feared
that the banks of the canal were breaking;
but this alarm was found to be groundless,
though danger was naturally to be appre-
hended. At 9 o'clock Monday morning
danger of further damage was thought to
have passed but the damage to property
is estimated at thousands of dollars.
The heavy rains in Georgia have beaten
the cotton into the ground on the uplands.
The corn and cotton crops in the bottom
lands have been ruined. Some counties
report the damage to crops at $4,000, but
it is impossible to estimate the loss, so
great and general has been the damage
to the growing crops.
A MONUMENT TO A REVOLUTIONARY